Boyce

Archive

Update: I have posted wrap-ups of spots I visited in Beijing to watch the World Cup during the first four days of the tournament. Click here for night one, here for night two, here for night three, and here for night four. Click here if you are seeking World Cup 2010 T-shirts with a Chinese twist. And below I've added more places to watch matches and additional notes on some places originally listed -- I've marked those entries with asterisks and included the new info in italics.

-

Good times in Beijing during the last World Cup as nearly every bar and its sibling had a TV screen to attract football fans (see All About Placement: World Cup Venues). Here is an an updated list of spots to catch games this time around. I hope to add more venues, and maps for each, by the end of tomorrow afternoon. If anyone has info to add, please let me know at beijingboyce (at) yahoo.com.

Finally, if you are looking for country flags, SLS is hard to beat. For jerseys,it looks like some are already hard to get, though I did spot quite a few at the sports shop in Workers Stadium this week. I'll also have info tomorrow on some special T-shirts a crew are making in Beijing for the World Cup.

More venues soon...

-

WORKERS STADIUM

The Den: A veteran on the sports bar scene, it is open 24 hours and has five screens, good pub grub, a reasonably efficient staff, and an excellent happy hour (5 to 10 PM daily, with half-price drinks and pizzas), though you would require the Hand of God to finagle a free glass of water here. Look for Danish fans to hang out here -- The Den, The DenMark, get it?

* ThePavillion: Among the busiest spots during the last World Cup, it has large screens on one of the better patios in town, as well as screens and TVs inside, though the latter are at an angle that can lead to sore necks.This place was charging an entry fee of RMB100, which includes one drink, at least during the first two nights, not unsurprisingly an unpopular move with some football fans.

* Uama Teppanyaki: The Budweiser-sponsored beer patio outside includes two large screens. Bud draft is RMB20 and there is a variety of other beers and mixed drinks available. This place has been drawing decent crowds.

Hooters: The only Beijing outlet of this U.S. franchise; expect pricey but passable food (try the chili dog), a handful of screens, and waitresses dancing and singing to songs such as "You Are My Sunshine."

Danger Doyle's: Formerly known as Stadium, this two-floor Irish bar, with back and rooftop decks, has screens upstairs and downstairs.

Drei Kronen 1308: Sibling establishment of Danger Doyle's, this three-story German beer house offers three kinds of home brew.

Workers Stadium: Look for the Football City beer 'garden' with large screen. Guoan fans can catch the World Cup in the shade of their home stadium.

SANLITUN SOUTH

Tun: Buy a meter of drinks during the World Cup, get a half-meter for free. Tun will screen games on the deck outside and on the TVs and that huge surface behind the stage inside.

Beer Mania: Buy one, get one free deal on Beijing draft during the games as well as T-shirt and ball giveaways for Stella drinkers.

SANLITUN NORTH

Blue Frog: Wear you team colors on game day at Cafe Europa and the first beer is free (with purchase). Look for lots of Dutch fans to hang out here.

* Luga's Villa: Free drink for those in uniform when their team is playing. Option of hanging in the villa, in the basement, or on the second floor or ground floor decks. One reader says that she didn't get her free drink when wearing her team's colors.

Saddle Cantina: Catch games on the first or second floors. Should be a wild night when the World Cup coincides with Cinco de Drinko.

Union Bar & Grille: One of the comfier bars in town, it has a handful of screens and will show games starting at 7:30 PM and 10:30 PM. All-day happy hour on Tuesdays.

* Paddy O'Shea's: Will shows games downstairs and in Kamat's upstair, have an outside bar and hot dog stand, and an Anyone But France campaign inspired by the Thierry Henri hand ball that dashed Ireland's chances of making the World Cup. Some fun touches here, including a bagpiper playing "Cup of Life", a No More Bunz hot dog stand, and music to fit the mood.

LIDO

Frank's Place: The Lido reincarnation of what is widely considered the first non-hotel bar to open in Beijing. Plenty of screens as well as a large party area out back.

Eudora Station: Located in the Lido area, this place shows sports, has a vast menu, and includes a lounge area out back and a nice patio up front.

The Irish Volunteer: While not a sports bar, it has kept NHL fans happy and will also show World Cup matches.

Parkside Bar & Grill: Newcomer to the Lido scene with several 55-inch screens.

SHUNYI

The Pomegranate: The Shunyi-based sibling of Paddy O'Shea's.

WUDAOKOU

Pyro: RMB15 pitchers of beer, games with English commentary

MORE

The Goose and Duck: Recently upgraded, this is a 24-hour sports bar with loads of paraphernalia and screen and a diverse menu.

Obiwan: Three story Xihai area venue. More details on this spot soon.

SaludNLGX: Look for a good crowd to gather at this Nanluoguxiang bar, drink homemade rum shots, and cheer on their teams. Free draft for the first goal scored during the World Cup.

Ned's: Aussies. Beer.

Souk: A Chaoyang Park West Gate venue that combines the feel of a lounge and some of the amenities of a sports bar.

Tim's Texas BBQ: Home of a wide range of Tex-Mex food, including a decent "Mexican burger", this place also shows sports.

All-Star: This place includes booth and table seating, solid pub grub, a four-sized bar, and dozens of flat screens in the Solana areay

Cafe Europa: Private areas for up to 20 people or up to 40 people, with big screen and CCTV feed, three 11-litre kegs of Krombacher Pils, and appetizers. RMB3000 for 7:30 PM games. RMB3500 for 10 PM games.